Children

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Child
A child, from The Book of Play
First appearance:	Ultima IV
Last appearance:	Ultima IX

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This article is about the phenomenon of children appear in the Ultima series. For other uses, see Child (disambiguation).

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A child is a human being who has not yet attained adulthood. Children are present in Ultima IV, Ultima V, Ultima VI, Ultima VII, Ultima VII Part Two, Ultima VIII, and Ultima IX.

Description

The Stranger could first encounter children after the end of the Age of Darkness, where youngsters could often be found wandering the streets of the newly-founded cities of Britannia. Many children during the early Age of Enlightenment were being brought up in the ways of virtue by a populace in the process of adopting Lord British's ethical system, and such youths could frequently be found in the care of the bards of Britain.

Later, during the years of the Oppression, many young people faced victimization under the draconian rule of Lord Blackthorn's regime, and were subject to the same penalties of law as adults – facing torture and execution under the new regime. Children of this era also frequently saw themselves orphaned, and were at times victims of exploitative labor practices. While conditions for Britannian youth improved after the return of Lord British to power, abuses still existed, and were exacerbated in later ages by the rise of the Fellowship and the rise of the Guardian's columns.

Lore

“	It takes a good deal of compassion to deal with children! – from Shalimar in Britain (Ultima IV)

“	All round the world, little children being born to the world. Got to give them all we can 'til the quest is won, then will the work be done! – from Linda in Cove (Ultima IV)

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It is important to keep in mind Stratos' teachings while raising your child. When you are angry at some small transgression your child has committed, remember that Stratos says there are no bad children, merely high-spirited or rebellious ones. Sooner or later all children will return to their home. And they should always be welcomed back, for all children are, indeed, precious. As there are no bad children, then it follows that a child who performs an act with which you disagree should be taught the wrong of the action, rather than receive punishment. As Stratos says, spare the rod and speak with the child. An unhappy child, however, requires different care, for what are words when sadness fills the heart. Take time to offer comfort and soothing immediately, for a sad child makes a sad world. – from Raising Your Children Correctly (Ultima VIII: Pagan)

Notable Examples

• Barren: a child living in Skara Brae during Ultima IV who knew the mantra of Spirituality.
• Terrin: a frightened child hiding from a bull in Trinsic during Ultima IV; knew the location of the rune of Honor.
• William: a young boy dwelling in Moonglow during Ultima IV who could reveal the location of the rune of Honesty.
• Aleyn: a young victim of Blackthorn's laws who could be found in Yew during Ultima V.
• Froed: the son of an imprisoned Resistance fighter living alone in Skara Brae during Ultima V.
• Rew: the daughter of Great Council member Fiona, who worked as an enslaved child laborer in Minoc during Ultima V.
• Ariana: the keeper of the rune of Compassion during Ultima VI; her encounter with the Avatar would later inspire her to create the Lovers' Walk in Cove.
• Myles: a child raised by cyclopes; could be encountered in the ruins of Stonegate during Ultima VI.
• Catherine: a young girl who befriended the Gargish people in the racially ghettoized Vesper of Ultima VII.
• Garritt: the spoilt son of the philanthropist Feridwyn; appears in Ultima VII.
• Kristy: an orphaned girl in the care of Castle Britannia's Royal Nursery during Ultima VII.
• Spark: a teenage boy from Trinsic who joined the company of the Avatar during Ultima VII that he might avenge the death of his father.
• Tobias: a sullen farm boy living in Paws during Ultima VII; one of the few adherents to the Eight Virtues in this era.
• Cantra: a teenage girl living in Monitor during Ultima VII Part Two; her possession by one of the Banes of Chaos and murder at the hands of Batlin are a major plot point.
• Shriash: spirit of a little girl trapped in a forcefield in the Temple of Emotion during Ultima VII Part Two; she wants to be free from the wall.
• Maria: a tortured girl imprisoned on Terfin during Ultima IX; she begs the Avatar to kill her.
• Meribeth: the sickly daughter of Britain's mayor, Aidon, during Ultima IX; her illness eventually forces her into exile in Paws due to her own father's policies.

Trivia

• In Ultima VII and Ultima VII Part Two babies appear as usable objects, and the Avatar may interact with them by changing their soiled diapers. The used diapers may, in turn, be used to devastating effect against the hero's foes – forcing monsters to flee from the scent of newborns' excrement.

Controversial Trademark

A greatly controversial part of Ultima lore includes a set of monsters that appear as children; first encountered in the dungeon Hythloth in Ultima V. This is a part of the game wherein the player is assaulted by these creatures and must somehow deal with them. Richard Garriott originally included this dilemma to force players to consider their actions and hopefully provoke an emotional response. Outraged, an Origin employee resigned believing this to be a promotion of child abuse. Ever since then, Ultima games have featured disturbing situations involving children.

• In Ultima VII, a similar dilemma appears, where the Avatar must kill or evade a room full of children.
• In Ultima VIII, a group of children can be found in the wilderness north of Tenebrae who will attempt to kill the Avatar.
• In Ultima IX a child who initially has an innocuous, bratty posture eventually attacks the Avatar with fireballs.
• Again in Ultima IX, the Avatar might encounter a child in Terfin who will beg to be euthanized.

Gallery

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  The "Killer Children Room," Ultima V

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  Hostile children in Ultima VIII

See Also

• Ultima IV monster data
• Ultima V monster data